House Republicans are fast-tracking so-called “salvage logging” in thousands of acres of wild California forest, part of a disastrous piece of legislation that threatens the health of the area for generations to come.

Now, after a predictable hue and cry, Yosemite has been taken out of the bill, which was recently reported out of the House Natural Resources Committee. But fire-affected parts of the Stanislaus, including a designated Wilderness Area, over 23,000 acres of roadless areas, a designated Wild & Scenic River and thousands of acres of endangered species habitat, remain in harm's way.

“We need to have a serious conversation about the appropriate time and place for salvage logging, but this bill is not a step in that direction,” said Anne Merwin, director of Wilderness Policy at the Wilderness Society. “Rep. McClintock’s plan, which ignores both bedrock federal law and science itself to open giant tracts of conservation land to one of the most environmentally destructive forms of timber harvest, is shortsighted in the extreme.”

Wilderness areas in danger

Stanislaus National Forest. Photo: Jon Wiley, flickr.

The Rim Fire burned nearly 260,000 acres, including designated wilderness and inventoried roadless areas within Yosemite and Stanislaus. Using the aftermath of such a disaster as an opportunity to line the pockets of timber companies only adds insult to injury.

This is especially true in Stanislaus National Forest, where the Rim Fire originated. Home to bald eagles, peregrine falcons, black bears and wolverines, it contains chunks of three different designated wilderness areas that have been cherished outdoor spots for generations.

Emigrant Wilderness, a great spot for hiking and horseback riding just to the north of the more famous Yosemite, falls under the purview of the logging bill. It is known for its volcanic ridges, eerie basalt columns and alpine lakes. Elsewhere in Stanislaus, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, named for the Carson River and a distinctive granite formation called "the Iceberg," is a vital destination for photographers and intrepid hikers due to its many splendid peaks, deep river canyons and green meadows. Mokelumne Wilderness boasts unique geological diversity and, like its sibling wilderness areas in the Stanislaus, has been shielded from harmful development for years.

How you can help

The Wilderness Society works to protect wilderness areas like these alongside businesses, government officials and recreational organizations, all of which understand the importance of such lands.